from Japan

Azaleas in Asakayama Johsuijo and its new esplanade

Three years ago, I introduced about the azaleas in the water purification plant of Sakai Municipal Government (Asakayama Johsuijo) at the shore of the Yamato River.
http://indigo05.exblog.jp/12623548

This year too, I went there.

They've got a new esplanade!


I felt this year's azaleas were more gorgeous than ever!


It is open until May 6 this year.

I went to Kobe Muslim Mosque

In the middle of April, I had a chance to go to Kobe Muslim Mosque.

This is the first mosque in Japan founded in 1935.

There was a teaching about Muslim, and I learned a little.

It was serine.

When I went upstairs, a woman was praying silently closing her eyes.
So I closed the door and did not go inside.

So peaceful, and so glorious place.

Idakiso Shrine

Idakiso Station is the one where Nitama works as a stationmaster.

Idakiso is the name of the shrine.

Acturally, I did not know anything about this shrine until I got there.

It is an old shrine founded in early 8th century on Kumano road which starting from Osaka City.



There are Kofuns, ancient tombs.
There is one just next to the shrine.

I climbed up to the top of one of them.




Afterwards, I found a website that shows inside of the tumulus.
Wow! I should go back there sometime.
http://www.geocities.jp/kohun1192/wakayama1.html

I wanted to see the stationmaster, Tama

The reason I went to Wakayama was I wanted to see her......

The Stationmaster, Tama.
Was I able to see her?

As for Tama, there is a good explanation in Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tama_(cat)

I took Kishigawa Line.

There is even Tama Densha, which means Tama Train.

But Ichigo Densha came, which means Strawberry Train.

The area around Kishi Station of Kishigawa Line has lots of strawberry fields.


I saw peach orchards along Kishigawa Line, so this area produces lots of fruits. Other parts of Wakayama prefecture is famous for tangerines, and plums. Wakayama is a place of lots which has lots of agriculture and surrounded by great nature.

I got to Kishi Station.

Tawa was not there. She is now fourteen years old. She is old for a cat, and I knew that.

Inside of Kishi Station, I just saw pictures of Tama. Kishi Station is a small museum that exihibits Tama's pictures.

Nitama works as a substitute of Tama.

She was an abandoned cat, and she works at Idakiso Station, not Kishi Station.

I felt so sad Nitama was in the case. I could not touch her. I was wondering if she was happy in the showcase-like cat house. I figured out in this way, she is protected. She seemed to be OK. She doesn’t work every day either.

But I was happy to see Nitama, as a cat lover.

Wakayama Castle

I went to Wakayama.

Wakayama Castle was not my plan, but the cherry blossoms were so beautiful that I went into the gate.


It was built by Toyotomi family in 1585, but one of Tokugawa families lived here. My favorite 8th Shogun, Yoshimune was from here in Kishu, Wakayama.

This may be the remain of the gorgeous garden.

Cherry Blossoms, 2013

I think today is the most beautiful day to see cherry blossoms in Osaka.

At a local park


At another local park

Usually, peach blossoms bloom earlier, but this year, they bloom just a little bit earlier than cherry blossoms. So we can enjoy both of them at the same time this year.

At Ohyosami Shrine near subway Abiko Station


And on the street

Sumo Wrestler Walking in Town

Sumo matches started on March 10 at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Namba.
March 24 is the final day.

If you walk around Namba, you may encounter sumo wrestlers walking around Namba.

This is at Subway Namba Station.